“It’s very provocative and sophisticated and edgy,” Thom Sherman, the network's head of development, tells EW.com. “It’s not as comic book-y as Smallville or other [superhero projects] from other networks.”

However, Sherman suggests that in Arrow, the character may be more like Jason Bourne than his depictions in DC comics or on Smallville, where he was played for five seasons by Justin Hartley.

“He doesn’t have any superpowers, he’s a very grounded character like a Jason Bourne — we use the term ‘mambo,’” he said. “His skill-set is that he’s an archer, but he also have physical strength and prowess. He’s clever and able to devise ways of taking down a bad guy that are unique and fun to watch.”

By "mambo," Sherman presumably isn't referring to the Cuban musical form, but rather something akin to Rambo. Probably.